A Puerto Rico marriage certificate is issued by the Demographic Registry (Registro Demográfico), which handles both the license you need to get married on the island and certified copies of marriages already on record. The same office, two different tracks: one if you’re planning a wedding in Puerto Rico, another if you already have a marriage registered there and need proof of it.
Getting Married in Puerto Rico
If you’re applying for the certificate as part of a wedding, you’ll gather documents, complete medical testing, pay a fee, and have the ceremony within a short validity window. There’s no residency requirement, so non-residents can marry on the island using the same process plus one extra sworn declaration.
Documents Both Parties Need
Each person brings a valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, or state ID) and a copy of their birth certificate. Anyone previously married must also provide the final divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse. Non-residents add a notarized sworn declaration from an attorney, judge, or county clerk confirming they do not live in Puerto Rico and stating the purpose of their visit.
Medical Testing
Puerto Rico requires lab results for four sexually transmitted diseases: syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV.1Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court Older guidance sometimes mentions only a syphilis (VDRL) blood test, but the panel was expanded in November 2020. The medical certificate signed by the examining physician is valid for ten days from the date it is issued.2Justia. Puerto Rico Code Title 31 Part III Chapter 31 – 236 Medical Certificates Required for Marriage If that window closes before your ceremony, you need a new exam. There is no extension. Non-residents can test with their own doctor at home, but the certificate should confirm compliance with Puerto Rico’s requirements.
Internal Revenue Stamp and Fee
An Internal Revenue Stamp (Sello de Rentas Internas) must accompany the application. Most sources cite a total fee in the $20 to $30 range, but the exact amount shifts with regulatory updates, so check the Demographic Registry’s digital portal before you buy. Stamps are sold through Puerto Rico Treasury Department offices, authorized banks, and the Colecturía Digital mobile app. Since November 2020 the application itself has moved online.
The License and Its Short Validity
You start by contacting the Demographic Registry — in person or through its online portal — for orientation and the application forms.1Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court The application asks for full legal names, dates of birth, parents’ names, and any prior marital history. An official reviews everything and issues the marriage license.
The license is valid for about ten days, during which the ceremony must take place. Miss that window and the whole process restarts, medical tests included. If you’re flying in, give yourself two to three working days on the island before the wedding date to clear up any last-minute paperwork problems.
The Ceremony and Filing the Certificate
Only certain people can officiate. On the civil side, judges of the General Court of Justice, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, the Appeals Court, the Court of First Instance, and the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico may perform the ceremony.1Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court On the religious side, any regularly licensed or ordained priest, minister, or Jewish rabbi may officiate. For a civil ceremony, contact the Clerk of the Court’s office at the relevant courthouse to schedule.
At least two witnesses must be present. Each witness must be at least 21 years old, carry a valid government-issued photo ID, and be able to read and write, since they sign the license after the ceremony.1Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court Line this up in advance for a destination wedding.
After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license and collects the witness signatures. The officiant or the couple then has ten days to deliver the signed license and all supporting documents to the Demographic Registry office in the municipality where the ceremony took place. That filing is what converts the license into the permanent marriage certificate. Miss the ten-day filing deadline and the legal recognition of your marriage can get complicated, so don’t leave it for the last day.
Requesting a Certified Copy of an Existing Marriage Certificate
For a marriage already on record, you need the full legal names of both spouses as they appeared at the time of the marriage, the date of the ceremony, and the municipality where it was registered. Mailed requests use Demographic Registry forms RD-225, RD-226, or RD-227 depending on the type of event, and a legible copy of a valid photo ID must accompany the request.3Registro Demográfico. Registro Demográfico
A certified copy costs $10.00.4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Puerto Rico Payment is by Internal Revenue Stamps or a money order payable to the Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico. Confirm current pricing on the registry’s portal before you send anything.
You have three ways to submit:
- Online through the gobiernodigital.pr.gov portal, which allows digital payment and order tracking. This is the fastest.
- By mail to the Demographic Registry’s central office in San Juan, with the completed form, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
- In person at a regional Demographic Registry office if you need same-day service, though wait times vary.
Third-party services like VitalChek also process Puerto Rico vital record requests, with their own service fees on top of the government cost. However you order it, the certified copy arrives with the registry’s official seal and is accepted for legal purposes throughout the United States.
Apostille for Use Outside the United States
A certified copy on its own is enough inside the U.S. If you need the certificate recognized in a foreign country that participates in the Hague Apostille Convention, the Puerto Rico Department of State issues an apostille for $3.00 per document, paid through Internal Revenue Stamps on the Colecturía Digital app.5Department of State. Apostilles By mail, send the original certified marriage certificate, the stamp, a letter naming the country that will receive the document, and a prepaid return envelope to the Department of State’s Certifications and Regulations Division in San Juan. In-person service is available at the Real Intendencia building.
One Thing the Certificate Triggers Automatically
Registering a marriage in Puerto Rico automatically creates a conjugal partnership, similar to community property in mainland states. Income and assets acquired after the wedding belong to the partnership, and debts incurred during the marriage, family support costs, and even repairs to each spouse’s separate property are charged against the community.6Justia. Puerto Rico Code Title 31 Subtitle 4 Part III Chapter 273 – 3661 Community Property Couples who want a different arrangement can sign a prenuptial agreement (capitulaciones matrimoniales) before a notary public. Worth raising with a Puerto Rico attorney if either party owns significant assets or runs a business, because the default regime takes effect the moment the marriage is registered.